{american girl}ie goodness

girls: "hey, mom, may we have {insert a few girls' names} over soon?"  me:  "sure."  girls: "hey, mom, mckenna is coming out with a movie soon."  me: "cool."

uh-oh

little did i know, it would soon snowball into a night of 13 {home-educated} squeely, girlie girls. because if you invite so-and-so, then you must invite so-and-so... and if you don't invite so-and-so, then so-and-so will get their feelings hurt.  you know how it goes. 

so this is how it went down... ummm, a week ago.  
this introverted mama needed some recovery time, you know.

we shopped for decorations.  mama needed a wee more tulle.  i mean, what's a girlie gathering without tulle?  we spent a day cleaning {really... why?} and party day was spent crafting, decorating, and baking {thanks to a certain wonderful daddy who loves his girls; baking is not beyond him}.

we made a banner, letters cut out using me ol' cricket.  the girls blew up balloons.  let the record reflect that mom did not have to blow up, or tie, one. single. balloon.  dad taught them how to tie and they were in business!  thankyoujesus.

we hot-glued foam stickers {that can later be used in smash-books} on toothpicks to be inserted in rice-crispy treats {nom-nom}, brownies, and cookies.  

nope, i didn't juice veggies for everyone. *gasp*  we want them to come back, you know.  the treats were gluten-free, but i cannot divulge the sugar content.  in caring for 13 excited kiddos, i'm sure working off calories isn't a problem.  yeah, i'm stickin' with that story.

hubs was a trooper and took care of dinner {$5 cheese pizzas} and secured nervous jasmine... in our room.  yeah, she wasn't too happy about that set-up.

the key to keeping 13 girls as drama-free as possible is to keep them busy.  can i get an amen?!

the girls played american girl bingo with pre-bagged peanut m&ms.  no complaints there.

they had fun playing the "who am i?" game.  

for that, we posted information about each doll {you can copy what we typed by clicking here} on a tri-fold poster board.  as the girls arrived, gracie and nator posted a doll sticker {found at michaels} on their back, matching a sticker on the poster board.  

it was each girls' job to go around to all the other girls and ask them questions that they could only answer yes or no to.  the prize? simple joy in the achievement.  i'm cool like that.

there was a lil' cha-cha slide and cupid shuffle going on, too.  they had a little sugar to burn.  maybe.

during the movie, i burned popped popcorn.  my microwave skills were a bit rusty, but i eventually got the hang of it.  remember... i don't really use our microwave.  anyhoo... have you ever tried watching a movie with 13 girls?  yeah, quiet is not happenin'.  overall, they seemed to really enjoy the movie.  thumbs up.

i keep telling the girls that i'm a cool mom.  maybe they'll believe me, one day.  you know, i did invite them all to stay the night.  half of them actually did.  they stayed up half the night.  

for breakfast, we fed them gluten-free pancakes with xylitol sweetened honey, organic eggs, and organic strawberries.  kinda makes up for the dinner menu, yes?

the important thing is that fun was had by all... and the adults, exhausted, slept right through the middle-of-the-night-giggles. zzzzz...

don't forget to tell your girlie that she can watch mckenna's movie, airing on nbc - saturday, july 14, 2012. 8/7c.

in the {moment} and lots of random

So easily, I get caught up in what the next project should be... that I forget.  Forget to enjoy the moment.  Who cares if the final phase of touching up my walls looks like a different shade of paint.  I'll just do it all. over. again.  *sigh*  Where was I again?  Oh... the moment.

In light of Japan's recent tragedies, we are reminded {once again} how precious life truly is.  I could go on and on about this one topic alone... but it's just so... so... *sigh*

sad.

This computer is completely filled to the brim with pictures and videos in it's hard-drive, that hubs says it's time to delete.  The very thought of deleting pictures gives me hives.  At least in my mind.  Didn't I tell you about the time I lost 5,000 pictures and home movies on a new external hard-drive?  The company that was hired to retrieve our pix was known for retrieving information off of hard-drives that have been rolled over by vehicles and retrieved from burning buildings.  Apparently, they had not met the hard-drive that fell from the coffee table to the plush carpet... maybe 3 times.  ;)  There were tears.  You know, since many of those pix were not backed up elsewhere.

Since that time, I have been diligent about burning pix to DVDs monthly.  And I'm holding out on deleting them till I make sure I've uploaded them for future online orders... and until I find the spare external hard-drive that's around this place.  I've been so fixated on making sure that the last two years are well documented, that I've not taken many new pictures. *hangsheadinshame*

Other than a few with my iPhone.  Wanna see?  {I'll pretend you said yes. Mkay?}



The most expensive thing Gracie and I found at the dollar store.  A $10 pony ride.  We agreed that the lady was not nice to her animals, so we hung around a long time and gave lots of love to her ponies and bunnies.  I think the llama just wanted to kick everyone.  {Sorry, Mr. Llama, we would have even loved on you, too.  Thanks for the ride, Mikey!}  Looks like Mikey is giving us that 'tilted puppy dog face', yes?



They are test-driving possible motor vehicles for future use already.  Can never start too early, right?  I hope you don't take me too seriously.



Gracie has been all about the games here, lately.  I'd forgotten how fun In a Pickle was.



We're losin' teeth here.  Nator has lost one since this, too, but we didn't manage to get a picture.  She informed me that it was her last baby pre-molar.  *sigh*  I believe she was mostly concerned with the dough that was going to land in her tooth pillow anyway.  She couldn't wait to get her hands on an episode of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman for her iPhone {simply used as a touch, not as a phone}.

They've grown to appreciate the value of an iTunes gift card.

They watch Ruff while going to the gym.  Yep.  We are on our third day {in a row-woohooo!} of going to the gym.  Together.  You see, I always had the gym as 'non-mommy' time, but I realize the need for cultivating good habits in the girls, too, so...  We are rearranging our schedule a bit.  Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

Stop trying... and just 'do'.  You know what I mean?

I'm bracing myself for the groans I plan to hear in the coming weeks.  {remember we did this before?  the girls grew tired of it... but mama is sticking to it this time.  i have to.}



Oh... and we all grew a little Justin 'Bieber fever' recently.  We almost cringe to admit it.  Except for Gracie.  She thinks she's his biggest fan.  We took the girls to see Never Say Never.   Nator simply went from dislike to like... not crazed fan.  She's level-headed, that one.

Confession:  It was as great as everyone said it was.  He obviously has God-given music ability.  Wow.  I can see why all the girls crush on him.  I mean, I have a weakness for intelligent, funny musicians, too.  Obviously, a little older, that is.  Without the well-oiled machine of Disney to back him, he did things a little old school, visiting many radio stations, etc.  A bit of ground work.  Did you know he broke his foot while performing on stage, and finished the song? Wow.

He homeschools, too, of course.  The girls liked that part.

{The negatives, Justin?  The short-skirted Miley.  yikes.  And the One Less Lonely Girl... poor thing.   I think the 'lonely girl' you pick out of the crowd really does want to marry you.  Be careful.  You may have them believing you really want to, as well.  ;)  And please, please continue to keep your lyrics clean.  Those R&B singers you look up to should heed that advice, as well.  All spoken in the loving tone of a parent... to one of your biggest fans.} 

Okay.  I feel better now.

Moments.  I'm off to create more of them.  And may or may not take pictures.  And may or may not listen to Bieber sing Never Say Never, Born to be Somebody, or U Smile while tackling my to-do list.  :)

See.  Aren't you glad we caught you up on our pictures and little adventures?  {again, i'll just pretend you said yes.}

I 'did' say there would be lots of random.

Stuff and a{nother} Giveaway, for the Girls

This week, I have been without my babies, and hubs has been working.  But not to worry.  I have been filling my days with excitement.

Cleaning closets, filling bags for donation {because I'm allergic to having a garage sale, at least for now}, and trash.  Oh, the trash those two sweet girls hide for mom to seek is just not a fun game.  I often tell them that it's a good thing they're so cute!  I've also been organizing school, and listening to a DVD on the importance of literature, while folding laundry, of course.

Really.  I'd love to spend this time shopping, getting massages, and a much needed facial.  Mama needs a facial.  Sigh.  It's a nice fantasy anyway.

When you homeschool and your hubs works a lot, your kids are with you all. the. time... making self-indulgent tasks nearly impossible.  As I remind myself how quickly seasons change, I'm am quite content with the season I am in. 

But a lil' pampering would be nice, too.  Just keepin' it real. 

I can't complain.  My evenings have been date-filled with hubs.  I think I'm having an Outback hangover.  Salmon all over the world are warning their friends and family about me.  Yes, 3 times in one week is a bit indulgent, wouldn't you say? {And if you haven't tried their bread with "honey-butter", you're missing out.  Ask for it.  They'll whip it up for ya.  Yummy-good!  You're welcome.}

It's kind of like going on a diet, then killing it at a buffet.  We haven't gone on as many dates as we used to, so when the girls are with Granny, we go date-crazy!  A mini-vacay for mom and dad, if you will. :)

We've {more than} caught up on movies, too...
*Inception.  Were they trying to leave us in limbo?  Hubs thought it ended in a dream.  I wasn't 100% sure.  I thought it looked like the metal was about to fall.  What did you think?
*The Expendables.  One of the worst movies I've seen.  We were pretty certain that this movie had more gunfire than all of the movies we've ever watched combined.  I think Sylvester Stallone needed to get a lil' Rambo out of his system, no?
*Salt.  While I'm not a big Angelina fan, I liked this move.  I like movies that keep you guessing.
*The Other Guys.  Eh.  It had its moments.  I suppose its about as good as it gets with Will Ferrell.  Not a fan.
And at home...
*The Back-up Plan.  Kinda cute and, like most 'chick-flicks', predictable.
*Why Did I Get Married Too?  A bit more serious. Tyler Perry does that.  Hubs fell asleep.

So, what does all of this have to do with a giveaway?  I'm glad you asked.  You see, I've had these new books in my closet {remember, I'm cleaning out my closet} for at least 4 years now.  I'm not sure why.  I mean, why do we hold on to most things?

The New Natural Hormone Revolution, by Dr. Teresa Roberson, N.D.  C.N.C
{I've met her. She's sweet, southern, and down to earth.} 

If you are a woman, are raising a little woman, or simply know a woman, and want a more natural approach to hormones... this would be a great book for you.  Cover to cover, it's 146 pages, and an easy read.  

How do you like that last one, eh?  Pregnant horse urine.  Nice.  {If you don't want to ingest that tempting ingredient, I hope you aren't already taking Premarin.  Just sayin'.}

It discusses the basics of estrogen dominance, calcium, and the use of natural progesterone cream.  Dr. Roberson has a great cream that I use and am waaaaaaay overdue in taking.  It's called Bellatude, which stands for 'beautiful attitude'.  Love that.  :)

Estrogen dominance would be described as having migraines, hot flashes, bloating/water weight gain, low sex drive, depression, foggy thinking, thyroid dysfunction, osteoporosis, PMS, weight gain around hips, thighs and stomach, facial hair, acne, fibroid tumors, etc.

I may or may not be able to relate to a few of those.  Oi.

Intrigued yet?

I have 3 of these books to giveaway to 3 lucky followers.

To enter the giveaway:

1.)  If you 'follow' me, just simply leave a comment telling me how great you think I am.  Bribery may not help your chances, but it sure is fun. :)    If you're not a follower, simply become one... and then tell me how much you love my blog.  :)
2.)  Mention the giveaway on your blog, and you're entered twice.  Be sure to let me know!  Don't you just love extra chances to win?!
3.)  Oh, and tweet.  That works, too.  Just lemme know, mkay?

I'll announce the winner next Friday, September 10th.  {Really?  September 10th already??!!}

Now... I have exciting things to finish before we go pick up our girls this weekend.  Organizing 3-ring binders for nearly 100 categories in classical education.  I may be exaggerating... by just a few categories.  I have a headache just thinking about it.

Now, where's that cream again???

If I were...

A flower, I would be one of those flowers that grow between the cracks in the concrete. This is how my Aunt described us. They seem to thrive under some of life’s most challenging circumstances. I can only hope my colors would be so vibrant.

If I were a song, I would be... I honestly don’t know. The only music I have listened to in several months has been on the radio while running errands. I suppose, I could make my own song for God. It would be for His ears only. To everyone else, it would sound like children’s artwork looks. ;)

If I were a movie, I would be Pride & Prejudice. Gotta love Jane Austin. Who am I kidding? I'm a sucker for an old romantic flic. I loved the 2005 version and plan to watch the long version with Colin Firth soon.

If I were a place, I would be a suite aboard a deluxe cruise ship. A new adventure each day… or the option to simply relax.

If I were a book, I would be The Shack.
(Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge was a close second.)
I know. The Shack stirred a lot of controversy among religious circles. I won’t try to defend it, but simply say that for me, it communicated a message of love from God we don’t hear much within the institution of church these days. I’m not usually a reader of fiction, but this one kept me captivated. ;) As a parent, the first 5-6 chapters were hard to read though.

If I were a holiday, I would be… the entire month of December! I love everything about the decorations and the weather. It actually snowed here last winter. Never say never. ;) We had so much fun!

If I were a time of day, I would be sunset.
(This was taken in 2005 off of a cruise ship. Mama is overdue!)

If I were a drink, I would be a non-fat, 1 pump sugar-free hazelnut, extra-hot chai tea latte from Starbucks. It's my luxary.

If I were a food, I would be… everything Italian! Of course, you gotta love starting it off with Italian crusted bread, dipped in oil and cracked pepper… if we’re not counting calories.

If I were a gadget, I would be DK's iphone.
Our flatscreen runs a close second. But then...

that's really too big to be a 'gadget'.

If I were a piece of clothing, I would be dark denim jeans.
You can dress them up or down.

If I were a shoe, I would be a pair of black pumps.
A girl can never have too many.

Thanks, Mama Belle.

How 'bout you?

Movie Marathon in Review

This is a run-down of most of our movie marathon over the Memorial Day weekend...

It's movies like this that feed my over-protective parenting style. I think this movie aged me 5 yrs. Heart Palpitations. Having said that, I don't personally know anyone in their right mind who would allow their 18 yr old to travel like this young lady planned to. Following a rock band tour only accompanied with a 19 yr old on the other side of the world? I get the premise of the movie though. I am ordering plastic bubble wrap for my girls in bulk as soon as I finish this post!

I suppose this is your typical predictable chic-flick, but even DK said it was a little better than he expected.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie since I really didn't know anything about its premise. When reading history about this horrific era, I have wondered what the soldier's thoughts were behind the scenes. How could anyone support such a dictator as Hitler? Hard to watch at times, but helps in giving insight behind the scenes. Still... not as hard as watching The Pianist.

Yes, we watched this movie... again. Although they did a great job of capturing emotion in unwritten dialogue, I need more than "Waaallleee" and "Eeevah" in the first half. Still... cute.

This movie was ok. Not theatre worthy (as we watched it the first time), but it had its funny moments. We had to go on a Redbox scavenger hunt for this one. Crazy memorial weekend.

If you love dogs, you will probably think this movie is cute. This is a good movie to watch with the little ones and lots of popcorn... It was family-friendly cute.

Cheetah Girls (Gracie's pick) & Arthur (A-Nator's pick) are movies the girls watched while DK and I watched the first few movies listed. Yes, I've watched them before too... the love of a mother. I was thankful not to have to do so again.

I know it's not a movie, but...

The Gosselins. I'm just so saddened by everything surrounding the gossip of this family. Why are people so quick to turn on each other? Many seem to have such strong opinions of either John or (especially) Kate. I can't even imagine what it's like taking care of 8 children in the spotlight. I wonder... what would be showcased on TLC if a camera followed us? Truth is... there's always more than meets the eye. Let's not be so quick to judge. I genuinely hope they will work things out.

Mother's Day Weekend Extravaganza

It happens every time the girls have an exciting event coming up. They always count down... nearly to the minute. This time, Granny was on her way! It was a welcome event as always, but especially since DK was flying to Washington & Alaska. He is missed. However... Like I said, I'm not bitter... not at all. Truthfully, I'm just thankful he made it there safely. Here are a couple of pix he took from his phone on his way. Today. On Mother's Day. Like I said, not bitter. They're pretty, huh?

Anyway, back to my weekend. ;) One of the first things we did?? Paint canvasses! I've really grown to love this craft with the girls. I enjoy seeing them create. On this day especially, I can't help but think of the goodness of God. Coming from a road of infertility, I can honestly say... I feel truly blessed. Being a mom is the hardest job, but it has to be one of the most rewarding. How can you top a paycheck of hugs & kisses?!

DK has flowers delivered. Awe. I will be looking forward to my date night!

The girls pick out some mini-red roses for Granny. They kept in mind that her favorite color is red and they loved the 'bling'. I thought this would be easier to travel with than a bouquet of flowers in a vase. Don't you?

Saturday morning, breakfast is served on the patio before we head off to our soccer game.

When we return, the girls can't wait to try out their new lil' pool. To see the girls' reaction, you would have thought it was 15 ft. instead of 15 in. I take a deep breath and think (sigh), it's the little things in life.

They played for 4 hours... Oh, if only Mom had remembered to re-apply the sunscreen. Even on Mother's Day, mom is not perfect. A girl does what she can. Lunch is also served on the patio. It was such a beautiful day. We have to nearly drag these lil' fish out of the pool.

On Sunday (Happy Mother's Day), we head to one of our favorite eating spots for a nice breakfast.

In an attempt to entertain the girls indoor (due to sunburn) during the hottest part of the day, we go to Target for some craft supplies. Gracie makes jewelry for her friends, while A-Nator colors her fairies. The girls make Mommy a picture frame. I'm such a sentimental girl.

Now, I'm all for keeping it real. So, I must say that it took a truckload of patience to continue telling them that they couldn't swim. Granny said they could get in the pool at 6:00, so you better believe that they were stalking the clock! You see what happens during a whole weekend with us??! Sorry Granny...

Just kidding. We really had a great time! I'm sure there will be tears for me to wipe when we have to see Granny's car pull from the driveway... and then I'll dry the girls'. ;)

We will miss our movie nights with you, Granny! We highly recommend watching Chrissa, an American Girl, for anyone with young girls. That was just one of the handful that we watched this weekend. There's nothing like snuggling with the little ones and sharing some kettle corn popcorn. Oh, and a Starbucks too... right, Granny? :)

I'm sure the girls will ask when we will see everyone again... and another countdown will begin!